Chapter 8 #3
I stepped closer, not enough to be threatening, but enough to make sure he heard me. “He didn’t just come on to me. We were together then too.”
Ridgway glanced between us. “Funny. That’s not what you told everyone.”
“No. It’s what I should’ve told everyone.” I took Keaton’s hand. “We were together then, and we’re together now. Come on.”
“Cute,” Ridgway called.
Keaton turned first. “Go back inside.”
I turned with him, my hand still locked around his, while every part of me was already calculating how fast I could get between them if Ridgway took another step.
Ridgway flicked ash onto the pavement. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll tell your manager you’re out here harassing customers while you’re supposed to be working.”
He laughed. “You think I give a shit?”
“You should,” Keaton replied. “I doubt you’re good enough at your job to be this arrogant.”
Ridgway’s attention landed on me. “This what you do now, Cross? Let him stand in front of you and run his mouth?”
Keaton’s hand tightened around mine. “Leave him out of it.”
Ridgway didn’t look away from me. “Come on. Say something.”
“We’re leaving.”
His smile widened. “That’s it? Took you four years to say he was yours, and now you’re done already?”
Keaton stepped forward. “You don’t get to talk about him.”
Ridgway squared up without hesitation. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“You are now.”
“Fuck you.” Ridgway shoved him.
Keaton absorbed it and caught his balance before Ridgway pulled his hand back. I moved toward Ridgway, ready to drop him before he got stupid enough to touch Keaton again, but Keaton caught my arm.
“Rowan.”
I heard him, but then Ridgway smirked at me. “That’s all it takes? He says your name and you back down?”
I looked from Keaton’s hand on my arm back to Ridgway.
One clean shot would feel good for about three seconds, then it could cost me everything Grant had just put in front of me and everything Keaton was building too.
Ridgway wanted a reaction, same as before, but this time, I had more to lose than pride.
I stepped closer, slow enough that Keaton let me go.
Ridgway lifted his chin. “What?”
“You don’t get another piece of us. Go back inside.”
For a second, I thought he might actually do it.
Then he swung.
It was sloppy and angry, more ego than aim. I saw it coming before his shoulder finished turning. I ducked under it, drove my shoulder into his midsection, and took him down hard enough that the air left his lungs when his back hit the pavement.
He tried to buck me off, but there was nothing behind it except rage and embarrassment. I pinned one of his wrists to the ground and pressed my forearm across his chest, giving him enough of my weight to make him stop fighting without putting pressure on his throat.
“You done?” I asked.
“Fuck you.” He tried to twist free.
I shifted my weight, and he grunted.
“Wrong answer.”
“Rowan.” Keaton tugged on my arm. “Not here.”
I could hold Ridgway there all night. I could make him feel helpless. I could make him understand what it was like to be on the ground while everyone watched, waiting for someone else to decide whether it would get worse.
But that wasn’t choosing Keaton.
That was choosing Ridgway.
I released him and stood, backing away before I changed my mind.
Keaton moved to my side instantly. His hand settled against my lower back, not grabbing onto me, just reminding me he was there.
Ridgway rolled onto his side, coughing. He dragged himself upright, breathing hard and red-faced.
The door opened, and a woman in a black polo stepped outside. “Westly? What the hell are you doing?”
“Nothing.” He tried to fix his hair.
She took in the scene, then looked back at him. “Doesn’t look like nothing.”
Keaton lifted a hand. “We were leaving.”
I expected her to ask questions. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at Ridgway as if she already knew enough. “Get inside,” she ordered. “Your break is over.”
Ridgway shot us one last glare before disappearing through the door.
The woman sighed. “Sorry about him.”
Keaton faced her. “You might want to keep him away from customers.”
“I’ll handle it.”
We didn’t stick around to see what she meant.
As we got to the car, the adrenaline finally started to drain, leaving my body heavy and my hands unsteady. “I wanted to hurt him,” I admitted.
“I know,” Keaton replied as he unlocked the doors.
I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For the date including a takedown in a parking lot.”
“Honestly?” He stepped closer. “Not my worst date.”
I couldn’t help smiling.
He grinned. “I’m kidding. This date is definitely the most likely to get us banned from a restaurant.”
A laugh broke out of me. “You’re impossible.”
“You love me.”
“I do.”
His smile faded. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
He took my face in both hands and kissed me, and this time, it wasn’t for Ridgway or to prove anything. It was just Keaton, his mouth moving against mine until the anger and adrenaline turned into something hotter.
When he pulled back, his eyes were full of desire. “I got us a room.”